Known For
Acting
Born
Jun 20, 1909
Died
Oct 14, 1959
Place of Birth
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Credits
105 titles
Errol Flynn
Biography
Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (June 20, 1909 - October 14, 1959) was an Australian-American actor and writer. He is popularly remembered as a charismatic romantic hero in the eight films he starred in with Olivia de Havilland. Flynn’s most iconic role came as Robin Hood in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938). After signing with Warner Bros. Pictures in January 1935, Flynn’s rise to stardom was swift. The studio decided to take a risk casting the unknown 26-year-old as the lead in "Captain Blood" (1935). The film established Flynn as a major Hollywood star and the natural successor to Douglas Fairbanks. The smash hit was followed up by "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936) and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), the most expensive film Warner Bros. had made up to that time. In spite of his Australian accent, Flynn starred in the enormously successful westerns "Dodge City" (1939), "Virginia City" (1940), "Santa Fe Trail" (1940), and "They Died with Their Boots On" (1941). The popularly of these westerns played a part in the genre’s revival. In late 1942, Flynn was charged with statutory rape of two 17-year-old girls. Despite his acquittal, press coverage of the trial led to the ubiquity of the expression, “In like Flynn.” With America’s involvement in WWII, Flynn had tried to enlist but was rated 4-F due to his enlarged heart, latent pulmonary tuberculosis and recurrent malaria (contracted in New Guinea). During the war, he made several films with the director Raoul Walsh. These include "Gentleman Jim" (1942) – one of Flynn’s favorite roles – and war films such as "Desperate Journey" (1942) and "Objective, Burma!" (1945). Embittered by his public image as a womanizer and his inability to serve in the war, Flynn further descended into a life of drug-addiction and alcoholism. His slow deflation became apparent in the waning success of his films and his aging physical appearance. By the late '50s, Flynn mounted a comeback with his turns in "The Sun Also Rises" (1957), "Too Much, Too Soon" (1958) and "The Roots of Heaven" (1958). In 1959, he died of a heart attack in Vancouver, Canada. Flynn’s notorious autobiography "My Wicked, Wicked Ways" (1959) was posthumously published. He also wrote two novels: "Beam Ends" (1937) and "Showdown" (1946).
Known For
Filmography
Gene Kelly - An American in Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
In Like Flynn
Book
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
Self (archive footage)
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
Warner at War
(archive footage)
Tasmanian Devil: The Fast and Furious Life of Errol Flynn
Self (archive footage)
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
Self / Various Roles (archive footage) (archive sound)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self (archive footage)
Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell
Self (archive footage)
Touring Australia
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths
(archive footage)
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
(archive footage) (uncredited)
My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn
Book
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
(archive footage) (uncredited)
The Extraordinary Seaman
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Cuban Rebel Girls
The American Correspondent
The Truth About Fidel Castro Revolution
Himself - Reporter
The Roots of Heaven
Forsythe
Too Much, Too Soon
John Barrymore
The Sun Also Rises
Mike Campbell
Without Incident
Capt. Russell Bidlack
The Big Boodle
Ned Sherwood
Istanbul
James Brennan
The Errol Flynn Theatre
Self - Host
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest
The Sword of Villon
Francois Villon
Screen Director's Playhouse
Francois Villon
King's Rhapsody
Richard, King of Laurentia
The Dark Avenger
Prince Edward
Lilacs in the Spring
John 'Beau' Beaumont
Crossed Swords
Renzo
The Master of Ballantrae
Jamie Durie
The Story of William Tell
William Tell
Against All Flags
Brian Hawke
Cruise of the Zaca
Himself / Narrator
Mara Maru
Gregory Mason
Deep Sea Fishing
Self
Adventures of Captain Fabian
Capt. Michael Fabian
Kim
Mahbub Ali, the Red Beard
Rocky Mountain
Capt. Lafe Barstow
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
What's My Line?
Self